LT1 Engine Upgrades.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
LT1 Engine Upgrades.
I called a local vett perfomance shop in the area regarding engine modifications to my '95 cp.
I was inquiring about the following:
Cat-Back Borla exhaust
Roller rockers (1.6)
Rear end gear ratio change
Cold air intake upgrade
After speaking with a tech at the shop on the phone he recommended the following:
LT4 Heads
LT4 Intake Manifold
LT4 Cam
Roller Rockers (1.6)
Computer Program
He said the above upgrades would cost about $2600 in parts and $1800 in labor w/ the addition of a $400 Computer programing. He said not to even worry about exhaust and cold air intake upgrades at this time if money would be a problem and said the suggested upgrades would gain me about 100 HP.
Does this sound right? $4500 is alot to spend and I just want to ensure I am getting what he said I should get.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Elmer
I was inquiring about the following:
Cat-Back Borla exhaust
Roller rockers (1.6)
Rear end gear ratio change
Cold air intake upgrade
After speaking with a tech at the shop on the phone he recommended the following:
LT4 Heads
LT4 Intake Manifold
LT4 Cam
Roller Rockers (1.6)
Computer Program
He said the above upgrades would cost about $2600 in parts and $1800 in labor w/ the addition of a $400 Computer programing. He said not to even worry about exhaust and cold air intake upgrades at this time if money would be a problem and said the suggested upgrades would gain me about 100 HP.
Does this sound right? $4500 is alot to spend and I just want to ensure I am getting what he said I should get.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Elmer
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
The LT4 heads, intake, 1.6 RRs and springs can be bought as a kit for around 2K. Not a bad upgrade for the price but about for the same money they're charging you for the kit, you could have your stock heads and intake ported to flow substantially better than stock LT4 heads, pick out a cam and springs, etc. and be well beyond 400 HP. I wouldn't spend the money on a cold air package, these are of minimal benefit for dollars spent for any performance that might be gained. Headers would be a much more worthwhile expenditure, especially if you upgrade the top end.
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,536
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From: Bristol CT
THats a good price for that package and it will get you 100 or so more HP.....its basically an LT1 to L4 conversion see this thread here...they did a magazon article on it..
lt1 to lt4 conversion
lt1 to lt4 conversion
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by LT1Vetteguy78
THats a good price for that package and it will get you 100 or so more HP.....its basically an LT1 to L4 conversion see this thread here...they did a magazon article on it..
lt1 to lt4 conversion
lt1 to lt4 conversion
I read that article but was a little confused.
I have a '95 LT1 CP, it claims 300HP stock, that is flywheel HP, right? The Grand Sport which has the LT4 claims 330 HP stock, that again is flywheel HP, right?
So I am trying to figure out how they can put LT4 parts on a LT1 and get 70 more horsepower then the LT4 Grand Sport???
Please help me understand where the extra HP comes from. Unless the GS HP rating was RWHP which I doubt.
Thanks!
Elmer
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 644
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From: Denver Colorado
are you sure he wasn't talking about ported LT4 parts, cause for that price sounds better. That's what I was looking at ported LT4 and custom cam, with fresh bottom end, LT with full exhaust, new rear end, all labor included at $5500
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by BRICHC4
are you sure he wasn't talking about ported LT4 parts, cause for that price sounds better. That's what I was looking at ported LT4 and custom cam, with fresh bottom end, LT with full exhaust, new rear end, all labor included at $5500
I want seat of your pants improvement and to be able to keep up with my friends '01 Z06.
Thanks for your replies!
Pro
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 707
Likes: 0
From: Syracuse Utah
Although the Grand Sport is an LT4, it still does not have the Hot Cam (219/228) in it. The Hot Cam comes as part of the LT1 to LT4 conversion kit. Also, the 330hp rating on LT4 cars is under rated, more like 345-350.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colorado
Originally Posted by FFXSTCHIEF
I want seat of your pants improvement and to be able to keep up with my friends '01 Z06.
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Large Impressive Member
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
If that quote does include porting, it makes it a much better deal. But it depends on how much porting too. My ported LT1 heads outflow stock LT4 heads by over 40 CFM (intake) at my maximum lift which is .525". If I went to around .550" lift, that advantage would increase to 50 CFM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,535
Likes: 2
From: Rochester NY
Cut down the cost. Forget the LT4 heads and intake. All you have to do is have a shop do a fully ported and polish your LT1 head and install 2.00 x 1.56 valves and install double valve spring along with hot cam and 1.6 rr . With tuning this easily give 100hp gain. Why spent the $$$ for the LT4 heads? A typical LT1 with head and cam up grade gain 100+ hp any way.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 18
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Originally Posted by Hotred94
Although the Grand Sport is an LT4, it still does not have the Hot Cam (219/228) in it. The Hot Cam comes as part of the LT1 to LT4 conversion kit. Also, the 330hp rating on LT4 cars is under rated, more like 345-350.
I also like the idea of porting my LT1 heads and intake with the cam/1.6 rr's. I think we can all agree 100 additional HP on a 300HP car is seat of your pants improvement.
Thanks for all the advice
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by Bruce
Cut down the cost. Forget the LT4 heads and intake. All you have to do is have a shop do a fully ported and polish your LT1 head and install 2.00 x 1.56 valves and install double valve spring along with hot cam and 1.6 rr . With tuning this easily give 100hp gain. Why spent the $$$ for the LT4 heads? A typical LT1 with head and cam up grade gain 100+ hp any way.
Except I'd recommend the CC #26918 beehive springs. Make sure and have the seats cut down about .020-.025" to get the installed height set to ideal.
Originally Posted by FFXSTCHIEF
I think we can all agree 100 additional HP on a 300HP car is seat of your pants improvement.
Next I'll see what another 30 (or so) more is like plus a hell of a lot more torque when the stroker's done..... Good luck with everything. 
